The Philadelphia Flyers won't get Chris Pronger back for the playoffs. It is unfortunate that their captain and top blueliner will be absent, but they have had some time to prepare for life without him and will continue on.

He would have been a huge boost to their cause this season, though, and his loss is one of the most detrimental in the league.

There are other injured superstars of his caliber injured right now as well, and a few of them are coming back. How they fare on the ice will ultimately decide their respective teams' playoff fates.

Daniel Sedin, Canucks (vs. Kings)

A return to the Stanley Cup Finals rides squarely on how Daniel handles his return to the ice from a concussion last month.

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It cannot be predicted and there is no cure. We don't know how Sedin will handle his first hit, but we do know that the Canucks need him in goal scoring mode if they are going to win games.

To make matters worse, they open the postseason against Johnnie Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. Quick has been sensational this season, and if Vancouver doesn't have their star left winger it could doom them.

No goalkeeper has recorded more shutouts this season than Quick, and he's allowing the least amount of goals per game of any every day starting goalie.

We know he'll return, but how he handles that return is still up in the air.

Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks (vs. Coyotes)

Like Sedin, we know Toews will be back, but we don't know how effective he will be.

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The Blackhawks have a huge advantage playing at home in the postseason, but they start on the road against a Coyotes team that could make quick work of them.

He's the only chance this team has at making a run for the Cup, and they know this as well as me and you.